Quality Assurance Manager in Watford

Work Model: This is a fully onsite role, with work performed at your designated Regal Rexnord office.

Role Purpose

The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for leading the Quality function at the Hertford site, with overall responsibility for the site's Quality Management System, product and process quality, customer and supplier quality, and continuous improvement. The role operates within a high-mix manufacturing environment producing precision couplings, air motors and engine couplings. The position also provides oversight and coordination of key Environmental, Health & Safety activities to support site compliance and effective risk management. The Quality Assurance Manager will promote a strong culture of quality, compliance, safety and continuous improvement.

Working closely with Production, Engineering, Supply Chain, Human Resources and Site Leadership, the role will ensure compliance with applicable customer, regulatory and Regal Rexnord requirements while improving product quality, process capability, customer satisfaction and operational performance. The role holder has authority to stop operations where a significant quality, safety or environmental risk is identified.

Key Responsibilities

• Quality Management
• Own, maintain and continually improve the site's Quality Management System, ensuring compliance with ISO 9001 and applicable customer, regulatory and Regal Rexnord requirements.
• Lead the Management Review process, establish quality objectives and report Quality Management System performance and key indicators.
• Act as the primary contact for customer quality matters, leading containment, root cause analysis, corrective action and verification for complaints and quality concerns.
• Lead PPAP and quality-planning activities, including Process Flow, Control Plans, PFMEA, MSA, special characteristics and capability studies where required.
• Oversee in-process and final inspection, metrology, dimensional requirements, GD&T and functional testing for manufactured and assembled products.
• Manage non-conformances, Material Review Board activities, dispositions, concessions and deviations using structured problem-solving methods such as 8D, A3, 5-Why and Fishbone Analysis.
• Drive the effective use of SPC, process capability, error-proofing and robust process controls in partnership with Manufacturing Engineering and Production.
• Lead quality improvement initiatives to reduce scrap, rework and cost of poor quality while improving first-pass yield, process capability and customer satisfaction.
• Lead internal, customer, supplier and certification audits, ensuring findings and corrective actions are closed effectively and sustained.
• Maintain oversight of supplier approval, performance, audits, corrective actions and development activities.
• Ensure Quality procedures, work instructions, records and controlled documents are maintained and kept up to date.
• Report weekly and monthly quality performance, ensuring lessons learned from customer complaints, internal non-conformances and supplier issues are captured and shared.
• Coach and develop the Quality team, strengthening capability in inspection, metrology, problem-solving and customer communication.
• Environmental, Health & Safety
• Support the site in maintaining compliance with applicable UK health, safety and environmental legislation, internal procedures and Regal Rexnord requirements.
• Coordinate and maintain appropriate risk assessments, COSHH assessments, safe systems of work and relevant EHS documentation.
• Support investigations into accidents, incidents and near misses, ensuring root causes are identified and corrective actions are implemented and verified.
• Support EHS audits, workplace inspections, emergency preparedness and compliance activities, ensuring actions are tracked to completion.
• Monitor relevant EHS performance measures and escalate significant risks or compliance concerns to Site Leadership and Regal Rexnord functional teams.
• Work with managers, associates, contractors and Regal Rexnord EHS resources to promote a safe and environmentally responsible workplace.
• Continuous Improvement and Leadership
• Champion a culture of quality excellence, continuous improvement, compliance and risk reduction across the site.
• Lead cross-functional improvement activities focused on product and process quality, customer satisfaction, throughput and process stability.
• Ensure corrective and preventive actions are implemented, verified and sustained, and strengthen standardisation through effective procedures, Control Plans, PFMEAs and work instructions.
• Provide leadership and professional guidance on Quality Management System requirements, structured problem-solving and compliance, while coordinating appropriate EHS support.
• Develop succession, training and competency plans for Quality activities and key EHS responsibilities.
• Work with Site Leadership to establish strategic objectives and promote shared accountability for quality performance and site compliance.
• Lead by example and demonstrate Regal Rexnord values, including integrity, responsibility, customer success, continuous improvement and a passion to win.
• Decision-Making Authority
• Authority to stop activities that present significant safety, environmental or quality risks.
• Authority to require corrective actions and verification activities following incidents, audits, complaints or non-conformances.
• Authority to escalate significant compliance concerns to Site Leadership and Regal Rexnord functional leadership.
• Authority to approve Quality Management System documentation and relevant EHS procedures within the scope of the role.
• Knowledge, Skills and Experience
• Essential
• Significant Quality Management experience within a manufacturing, engineering or similarly regulated environment.
• Good working knowledge of Quality Management Systems, including ISO 9001.
• Experience leading Quality audits, corrective actions, root cause analysis and structured problem-solving.
• Experience within CNC machining, precision engineering or a high-mix manufacturing environment.
• Understanding of Quality tools and processes including Control Plans, PFMEA, MSA, SPC and process capability.
• Practical knowledge of UK health, safety and environmental requirements, with the ability to support risk assessments and incident investigations.
• Willingness to work towards an appropriate recognised health and safety qualification within an agreed timeframe, if not already held.
• Strong analytical, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to interpret performance data and implement sustainable improvements.
• Strong organisational skills, the ability to manage competing priorities and competence in Microsoft Office applications.
• Desirable
• Relevant degree, HNC/HND, professional qualification or equivalent practical experience.
• ISO 9001 Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor qualification.
• Knowledge of PPAP, APQP, GD&T, metrology and statistical process control.
• Experience of customer-facing quality management and supplier development.
• Lean, Continuous Improvement or Six Sigma training.
• NEBOSH Diploma, NCRQ Diploma, IOSH qualification or equivalent advanced EHS qualification.
• Experience leading a Quality Management System or integrated management system and Management Review processes.

Working Requirements

The role requires regular shop-floor presence during production hours and flexibility to support audits, customer visits, investigations, EHS matters and other operational requirements. The role holder must comply with all applicable company policies, procedures and standards and actively contribute to a safe, inclusive and continuously improving working environment. The position is expected to operate as a visible member of the site leadership team and promote accountability, compliance and operational excellence across all functions.